A man long suspected of being the notorious “Pillowcase Rapist” who terrorized South Florida in the 1980s was convicted last Monday in another of the cold case attacks.
Robert Koehler, 66, was found guilty of sexual battery, kidnapping, and burglary by a Miami-Dade County jury after they deliberated for less than two hours. His sentencing is scheduled for November 24th.
Monday’s conviction stems from an attack on a woman who was 22 years old in 1984 when an assailant broke into her southwest Miami-Dade County home and raped her. This marks the second conviction for Koehler; he was sentenced to 17 years in prison nearly three years ago for a similar attack on a 25-year-old woman in 1983.
The Terrifying Pattern
The “Pillowcase Rapist” gained infamy in the 1980s by breaking into victims’ homes at night. Authorities say the attacker used a pillowcase or other fabric to cover his face—or the faces of his victims—before assaulting them, often tying them up and stealing property. The string of assaults attracted extensive media attention, leading authorities to create a dedicated task force to investigate.
The case went cold for decades until 2020, when a DNA hit was generated. Authorities stated that the DNA match came from one of Koehler’s relatives, which ultimately led police to identify and arrest him.
Prosecutors have asserted that they have connected Koehler’s DNA to at least 25 attacks, though the total number of victims is estimated to be over 40. The latest conviction brings further closure to one of the region’s most chilling crime sprees.
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